Promise Keeper, Overtook in Belmont Stakes possible, not definite
Trainer Todd Pletcher said the Belmont Stakes “is in play, but not etched in stone” for both Promise Keeper and Overtook, the first- and third-place finishers from Saturday’s Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes.
Promise Keeper won the Peter Pan by 2 1/4 lengths over Nova Rags. He ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.71 and earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure. After speaking with Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm, which is part owner of Promise Keeper, Pletcher said the decision to run in the Belmont would be made after evaluating this coming weekend’s Preakness Stakes as well as the colt’s training.
“I thought he finished up well, that’s two wins at a mile and an eighth. Luis [Saez] felt he had a lot of horse in the end, all that’s encouraging,” Pletcher said. “Obviously, it’d be another step up in class, but it was what we were hoping for.”
Overtook, in his first start since finishing second in the Grade 3 Withers in February, was beaten 3 3/4 lengths in the Peter Pan. Pletcher said the colt’s breeding - he’s by Curlin out of an A. P. Indy mare - and expected improvement second off a layoff could make the Belmont possible.
Meanwhile, trainer Bill Mott said Nova Rags would be considered for derbies in Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa.